Automatic spring-making machine.



A. L. LINBEIIG, I. E. ANDREW I. II. c. WRIGHT.

A. B. L. LINBERG, J. E. ANDREW & H. C. WRIGHT.

AUTOMATIC SPRING MAKING MACHINE. APPLlc/mon FILED MAR. 12. 1915.

Patented .T1-111.4, 1916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WIW A 77m www( A. B. L. 'LINBERG, I. E. ANDREW 6L H, C. WRIGHT.

'AUTOMATIC SPRING MAKING mAcHmE.

APPLICATION FILED MR.- I2. 1915.

M6691?. I muted J.n.4,1916.

A. B. L. LINBERG, J. E. ANDREW 6L H. C.`WRIGHT.

AUTOMATIC SPRING MAKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 12. 1915.

Patented 111111916.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

lllilmlllil A. B. -L. I INBI'RG| I. E. ANDREW L H. C. WRIGHT.

. AUTOMATIC SPRING MAKING MACHINE.

APPLlcATIoN FILED MAR. 12. 1915. 1,166,917.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916 5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

man srarrns PATENT onirica.

ADOLPH B. I.LINBERG, JOI-IN ERNEST ANDREW, AND HENRY C. WRIGHT, 0F BRISTOL,

CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNORS TO THE WALLACE BARNES CO., 0F BRISTOL, CON- NECTICUT, A CORPORATION.

AUTOMATIC SPRINGJVLAKING MACHINE.

Patented Jan. e, 191e.

Application iledlarch 12, 1915. Serial No. 13,844. i

ings constitute part of this application and represent in- Figure '1 a plan view of one form which an automatic spring-making machine constructed in' accordance with our invention may assume. Fig. 2 a view thereof in transverse vertical section on the line c-b of Fig. 1 looking forward or in the direction of the arrow c. Fig. 3 a corresponding view on the same line, looking rearward or in the direc; tion of the arrow el. Fig. 4 a broken view of the machine in front elevation, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 5 a broken view in lefthand side elevation of the parts shown in Fig. 4, drawn to the 'samcenlarged-scale.

the adjustable crank-pin.

Fig. 6 a detail broken view on a still larger scale showing the interrelation of the forming tools and the formation of a loop in the end of the wire. Fig. Z a corresponding view showing the same parts as setfor making left-hand springs, the parts being shown in the positions due to them just before the looping operation, and the die-carrier being slightly elongated. Fig. 8 a corresponding view of the same parts at the completion of the looping operation. Fig. 9 a detached broken view in inside elevation of the die and die-carrier. Fig. 10 a view thereof in horizontal section on the line e-f of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 a, broken plan view of the looperpin. Fig. 12 a broken view in vertical sec-4 tion of the die-carrier, the vertically mo'vable slide therefor, and the parts Aimmedi-v ately connected with the slide. Fig. 13 a detail view partly in side elevation and partly r in section, of the forward feeder-head. Fig. 14 a view thereof in front 'elevation showing Fig. 15 a face view of a spring formed in the machine and having one of its ends looped. Fig. 16 a plan View of the same spring. Fig. 17 a face View of such a spring as may be used in the improved machine' with straight offsetting ends. Fig. 18 a plan view thereof. Fig. 19 a broken detail view showing the fed-end of the vwire with a spring formed upon it ready to be cut oli".

@ur invention relates to an improved automatic machine for making right or left hand springs of the class commonly known to the trade as torsion springs, though also adaptedto beused as compression or eX- tension springs.' These springs, however used, are characterized by a helical coil and I oifsetting ends one of which may or may not be looped, thcvobject being to produce a machine having a large capacity 'for work and adapted to be adjusted for the production of a wide range of springs of this character at a low cost for manufacture.

With these ends in view, our invention consists in a machine of the character described, having ce'rtaiiidetails of .construc- Vtion and combinations of parts as will be hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

For the purpose of illustrating our invention, we have shown it herein as enr bodied 1n a machine ladjusted for the production of right-hand' springs having one 'and looped and the other straight.

In the -rziachine i'llustrated5'the stock wire 2 is fed byupper and lower feed-rolls 3 and 4,., into a two-part wire-guide or quill the upper and lower parts 5 and 6 kwhereof are mounted in a quill-holder 7 in which 'they are rigidly secured by a binding-screw 8,

the upper part 5' of the quill being formed with a longitudinal groove 9 'gust large over the former-pin 10 which is mounted atY a right angle to the path of the wire 2 in vthe upper end of a vertically adjustable slide 11 in which it is secured by means of a set-screw'12, the slide being adjustably secured in place by means of a bindingscrew' 13 passing through anelongated slot lenough to permit the passage through it of moved by the action of either of the camsl 76 roll shaft 84 having bearing at its forward end in a vertically movable block 85 located in an opening 86 in the forward upright 15,

the said block resting at its lower end upon a spring 87 acting in opposition to a spring SS resting upon its upper end and adjusted Nin tension by means of the stem 89 of a hand-Wheel 90. At its rear end the shaft ing the hand-wheel 90 for the compression of thesl'n'ing 88, the spring 87 yields and j permits the feed-roll 3 to grip the wire 2.

On the other hand, when the hand-wheel 9.0 is reversed for the purpose of inserting the wire, the spring 87 asserts itself to lift. the block 85, and hence the roll 3. 4

At its projecting rear end, the shaftv 84 is provided with a pinion 91 vmeshing'ginto a corresponding pinion 92 upon the projecting rear end of a lowerfeed-roll shaft 93', having bearing in -the forward and rea-r up" rights 15 and v17 and carrying at its pro,- jecting forward end, the lower feed-roll .4. Inasmuch as the total length of wire entering into the coil proper will ordinarily vary in different springs according to their diameter and length, from the total length of the wire forming the offsetting ends of the springs, it is desirable to have the coil-feed and ends-feed separate so that one may be regulated without disturbing the other. We do not limit ourselves to a-feed of such, a character, but we have shown such` a feed and prefer to employ it.

The feed-rollsv 3 and 4 mounted, upon the projecting forward ends of the. shafts 84 'and 93 have, as shown, step-by-step rota-v tion imparted to them in the forward direction as indicated by arrows g and h (Fig. 4) by the alternate action .of forward and rear segments 94 and 95 loosely'rocking upony the opposite ends of a fixed shaft 96 located directly below 'the feed-roll' shafts 84 and 93. The said segment 94 meshes into a pinion 97 fixed upon a pawl-carrying disk 98 vloosely mounted upon the lower feed-roll shaft 93, while the said segment 95 meshes into a pinion 99 fixed to a pawlcarrying disk 100 also loosel mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 9g The segment 94 is provided with a stud lOl-for the conne'ction with it of a crank 102 the oppositeV end of which ,is sleeved over a flanged bushing 103 mounted upon an adjustable crank. pin 104 as shown in Fig. 13, the said crank lbeing secured in place by means of a washer 105 and nut 106. The pin 104 forms a part of a sliding block '107 mounted in a radialslot 108 inthe forward face of the forward Figs. 13 and 14.

feeder-head 58 as shownqin Fig-.14. 'The block 107 is tapped yto receive an adjusting- The rear segment 95 is provided with a stud 113 for the attachment of one end of a crank 114 the other end of which is sleeved over a anged bushing 115.0n a crank-pin 116 to which the 4crank v114 is -secured by means of a washer 117 and a nut 118. The

located in a radial T-slot 120 in the `rear face of a feeder-head 121 corresponding to the feeder-head ,58 but mounted upon the rear end of the main driving-shaft 59. The

block 119 is adjusted inthe slot 120 by meansv of an adjusting-screw 122 having a slotted stud 116 forms a part of a sliding'block 119.` 84 bears in'the rear upright 17. By turn- N head 123 set flush into the periphery of the feeder-head 121, the screw being held in place by means of a pin 124. Though shown with less detail, it will be understood that the. adjustable connection between thejsegment and the rear feeder-head 121 1n every respect duplicates the connectionof the segment 94 with the forward feederhead 58, the latter being shown in detail in Returning nowA to v carrying disk 98 (Fi 2), it carries, as shown, four correspon ing pairs of spring- .actuated pawls 125 hung upon screw studsA l f 126 and all co-acting with a fine-toothed ratchet-wheel 127 rigidly secured to the lower feed-roll shaft 93 at the `forward end.

thereof. Theseeight pawls are slightly differentiated in length so as to engage at different points throughout the length of the respective teeth of the ratchet-wheel 127, this being the common Aexpedient for the reduction of slippage, thus made negligible. Correspondingly, the rear pawl-carrying disk 100 is provided with 'four'pairs of spring-actuated pawls 128 hung upon screw vstuds 129 and co-acting with a fine-toothed ratchet-wheel 130 fixed upon the rear end of the lower feed-roll shaft 93. These pawls are also differentiatedin length like' the pawls'125, so as to reduce the slippage to a negligible amount.

` It will be understood from the foregoingA that the throw of the rocking segments 94 and 95 is determined by the position of the respective crank-pins 104 and 116, with regard to the centers of the forward and rear directly opposite each other on the opposite sides ofthe centers ofthe respective feeder.- heads 58 and 121 so that the'segments 94 y 95' A the forward pawlj lfeeder-heads 58 and 121, whereby they step- Y Aand 95are alternatelyV operated the sense that the'driving` throw of one segment is concurrent with" the idle or return movement of the other segment, and vice versa. rlhat isV to say, when one segment driving, the 'other segment is ratcheting-back into posithe-feeding of thel wire 2 is taken advantage of for'cutt-ing the wire and for looping and cutting the wire when a looper-tool isemploye A As herein shown, the cutting mechanism comprises a cutter 131 set into a recess 132 in the forward end .of a rocker-arm 133 mountedon a stud 134 in a,` carriage 135 provided at its base with a T-head 136 reciprocating in a T-slot 137 formed in" an adjustable guide 138 having an arm 139 containing a slot 140 receiving a binding-screw 141 in the forward upright 15 of the machine frame. The said cutter 131 co-acts with a corresponding, but stationary cutter 142 'setV hung upon a stud 149, and having its lower arm 150 furnished with an anti-friction roller 151 turning von a pin 152 and co-acting with a cut-ofi' cam 153 set into a recess 154 in the periphery of a disk 155 on the main driving-shaft' 59, the said disk 155 being formed with a recess 156 located directly opposite the recess-154 so that the cut-off cam 153 may be shifted in position in case it is desired to convert themachine for producing left hand springs. l

Normally the cutters 131 and 142 stand sutliciently back of the path in which the wire 2 travels to permit the wire and the successive springs formed upon its fed end vto be moved in front of the cutters from one side thereof to the other. Just before the cranks 102 and 114 reach their deadcenters, the bell-crank lever 148 is actuated by the cam 153, whereby the Ehead 146 acts against a plunger 157 mounted in the carriage 135, the forward end of this plunger abutting against a spring 158 located rli`he said carriage is now moved forward and with it the cutters 131 and 142, against the tension of a retracting spring 159, weaker than the spring 158, located in a recess 4160 in the lower face of the 'carriage and impinging at its forward end against a Stop-screw 161 extending tl'rian by winding upon an arbor.

Lieder? upward through the guide 138.V When the spring 159 has been fully compressed coilv upon coil, it arrests the forwardwmovement of the carriage 135 by which time the cutters 131 and 142 will, as it Were,.hav.e straddled 'thei'wire at a point on the inside of the newly formed coil therein. The continued movement of the bell-crank lever 148 affects the compression of the spring 158 which permits the'beveled T-head 146 to move forward with respect to the bevel 145 of the extension 144 of the rocker-arm 133 carrying the cutter 131, whereby the arm 133 is operated to depress the said cutter and cut off the newly formed spring which drops into any convenient receptacle. The-cut-oi' cam 153 now releases the bell-crank lever `asserts itself to retract the carriage into its retired position in which the cutters 131 and 142 are returned into their clearance positions to the rear ofthe path of the wire 2 so that the same may be fed straightway in front of them.

As shown, 'the main driving-shaft 59 is operated `by a sprocket-wheel 162 driven by a sprocket-chain 163 passing through openings 1'64 in the machine-bed 16 to any convenient source of power.

`Before taking up the conversion of the 11nachine illustrated for `the production of left-hand springs, We vwill rst'describe its .148, which rocks back into its retired posioperation in the production of yright-handIl springs for which it is set as shownA- in all ofthe figures of the drawings with the eX- ception ofFigs. 7` and 8. In the first place, the crank-pin 104 is positioned by the adjusting-screw 109 (Fig. 14) as: required to cause the feed-rolls 3 and 4 to feed the exact `predetermined amount of wire in the combined ends of eachspring, although as a matter of fact, in the operation of the machine, the total amount of wire fed as the result of this adjustment, goes into one end of -one spring and the opposite end of the next succeeding spring to be produced.V rlhe crank-pin 116 is also adjusted by its screw 122 as required to cause the feed-rolls 3 and 4 to feed the exact predetermined length of wire which is to enter into the combined coils of the individual springs to be produced. inl this connection it may be observed that the diameters ofthe springs is regulated Vby the relative adjustment or spacing of the several forming-tools with respect to each other, rather than by the diameter of the Iformer-pin 10, since the wire is coiled by deflection around rather Here we may say. that in a broad view the quill, the

former-pin 10, the die or 'anvil 18 and the looper-pin 37 are all forming tools since they all participate 'directly in forming the springs. The wire 2 having been introduced between the feed-rolls 3 and 4 and -threaded through the two-part quill so as spring produced. The feeding mechanisms of the .machine will aty this time be approaching and almost on their dead centers j as shown'in Figs.' 2 and 3. The cam 77 on 'the feeder head 58 now operates to positively depress the die-carrier 20, while the loopercam 60 acts to effect the lifting of the looper-pin 37 These two 'movements are substantially simultaneous, and result in wrapping the projecting end of the wire around the forming-shoulder 22 of the die or anvil 18. The looper-pin 37 now retires, leaving the die 18 close to, but not necessarily in contact with, the' former-pin 10 and -standing in the path inwhich the wire 2 travels, and at a right angle thereto. The

rear feeder-head 121 now operates to actu-v ate the feed-rolls 3 and 4 in their coil-feeding movement, whereby the wire is forced against the bottom of lthe groove 23 in the die 18 and coiled by deflection more or less loosely around the former-pin 10. The coil or spring proper 34 is thus produced, the pitch yof its several vcoils being gaged by the screw 31 which predetermines the position of the groove 23 with respect to the line on which the wire is fed.

During the production of the coil 34, the loop 35 revolves in the air at the speed at which the coils are produced.x The coiling lof the wire continues until the coil-feed segment 95 has completed its feeding throw during which time the ends-feed segment 94 has been ratcheted back in the opposite direction into position to start its feeding throw, the two cranks 102 and 114 being now almost on their vdead-centers in opposite positions from those in which they are shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The lifting-cam 76 on the feeder-head 58 now operates'to raise the slide 25, whereby the anvil 18 is lifted into its retired or clearance position above the path ofthe wire 2. I The ends-feed segment 94 now operates to drive the feed-rolls 3 and 4, whereby the wire is fed to the predetermined distance necessary to produce the straight inner end 36 of the spring first made and the straightend from which the looped end 35 of the next succeeding spring, is to be formed. At the conclusion of the 55 feeding stroke of the segment 94, during which' the segment 95 has been ratche'ted,`

back into its starting position, the cranks 102 and 114 of the 'respective segments are -again approaching their dead-centers, and

again in the positions in which they are shown in the drawings, barring Figs. 7 and 8. p Just before the two cranks reach their dead-centers, the cutter-cam 153y begins to operate, whereby the carriage 135'is moved forward to cause the cutters 131 and 142 to straddle the wire at the point in Fig. `19. Then the cranks are actually on their deadcen'ters, the cutter-cam 153 completes its work by cutting the -wire at the point whereby one complete spring is produced,

-leaving the exact length of wire required for producing the looped arln 35 of the next succeeding spring; The operations above recited are continuously repeated for the Vproduction of each spring.

If it is desired to produce left-hand springs, the die-carrier 20 is removed and replaced by a similar die-carrier 165 corresponding to the said die-carrier 20 except in so far that its lower` end is iliade long enough to position the di 166 below rather thanabove the line of travel of the wire 2 when the slide 25 is at the limit o'f its downward movement. The die 166 is eX- actly' like the die 18 except that its forming shoulder 167 .is reversed in position end for end. `The set-screw. 8 isnow loosened and the two-part quill 5 land'6 removed from the' holder 7. The screwv 13 is also loosened and the slide 114 lifted to position the former-pin v10 (Figs. 7 and 8) directly above, rather line of tra-vel of the, wire 2 as shown in Figs 7 and 8, instead of below the said line of travel as elsewhere shown. The crank-pin 104 of the feeder-head 58 is now readjusted as required to devolve upon the forward' segment 94, the 'function of actuating the feed-rolls 3 and 4 for the coil-feed of the wire, while the crank-pin 116 of the feederhead 121 is adjusted to devolve upon the .segment 95, the ends-feed of the wire, one

segment doing the work formerly done by the other in winding right-hand springs. The looper-eam 60 is now shifted to the opposite side of the feeder-head 58, so that its screws'l' will occupy the screw-holes 62, while the cutter `cam 153 is removed from the notch 154 in the cam disk 155 and i11- serted into the recess 156 therein. rll`he machine has novv been converted .for theproduction of left-hand springs Whichmay`r be described as corresponding in character to left-hand screws. When converted for producing left-hand springs, the cycle of operations is the same as that alreadygiven with the exception that the ,Wire is deflected upward instead of downwardby the forming tools by- Which We mean` to include the quill, the former and looper-pins and the die or anvil, which might be replaced by a roller or other :form of delecting tool, thel term anvil being used in the text and claims in the sense or a delecting tool.

`We claim z- 1. A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding the Wire, coilforming tools, and means for automatically altering the co-acting relationship .of the said tools to permit the straight travel of the Wire in forming odsetting ends upon the ends of lthe spring coils.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding the Wire, coilforming tools including a delecting tool, and means for moving the said tool to alter the co-acting relationship of the tools to permit the straight travel lof the Wire for forming osetting ends upon the ends of the spring coils.

3.' A machine-'of the character described,

`comprising means forA feeding the Wire, coilforming tools, means for altering the coacting. relationship of the said tools to permit thestraight travel of the Wire for form-- justing the anvil to change the pitch of the coils. v v

5. A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding the Wire, and coil-forming .tools including a Wire-guide, a former and an anvil Which latter eects the deflection of the Wire around the former,- and means for automatically altering vthe (zo-acting relationship of the said tools t0 permit the straight travel f otheWire-in forming offsetting ends upon the ends of the sprlngrcoils..

6. A machine of the character' described comprising meansfor 'feeding the Wire, a quill or wire guide, a former and a die or anvil, and means for automatically altering the co-acting relationship ofthe said tools to permit the straight travel ,of the" nieder? Wire in forming osetting ends upon the Wire in forming oifsetting ends upon the ends of the spring coils, the elements of the machine being constructed to be convertible for Winding right or left hand springs.

- 8. A machine of the character described comprising meansfor feeding the Wire, coilforming tools, means for altering the coacting relationship of the said tools to permit the straight travel or the wire in formingt offsetting ends upon the ends of the spring coils, and means for looping one of the offsetting ends of each spring.

9. A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding the Wire, coilforming tools, means for altering the coacting relationship of the said tools to permit the straight travel of the former in forming oiisetting endsA upon the ends of the spring coils, a looper for loo-ping one of the offsetting ends of each spring, and means for putting the said looper out of action. l

10. A machine of the vcharacter described,

lcomprising means for feeding the Wire, a

Wire-guide, a former, a die or anvil furnished with a forming shoulder, a looper co-acting With the said shoulder, and means for altering the co-acting relationship of the said tools to permit the straight travel of the Wire in forming offsetting ends vupon the ends of the springl coils.

11. A machine of the character described, comprising means for feeding the Wire, a Wire-guide, a former, a die or. anvil, a carrier therefor, and meansV for moving the carrier to shift the position of the die with reference to the line of travel of the Wire through the guide to permit the straight travel or the Wire in the intervals 'between the insertion of the die into the said path for the delection of the Wire around the former.

l2. In a of the character de- I* scribed, comprising means for feeding the Wire, coil-ormingtools, means for alterlng the co-acting relationship of the said toolsy -to permit the straight travel of the Wire in forming osettin-g ends upon the endsof the spring coils, andmeans for successively cutting oill the springs after their formation upon the fed end of the Wire.

13. A machine of the character described,-V

comprising means for feeding the Wire, coilforming tools, means for altering the co-acting relationship of the said tools to permit the wire to be alternately coiled and ted straight, a cutter, a carrier for the said cutter, and means for moving the said carrier I.

lll

' ized by having a y nieder? -at a right angle to the path of the fed wire to be alternately coiled landfed straight,-

cutting mechanism, and means for operating the said cutting mechanism when the feeding mechanism is in the dead center phasey of its operation.

15. A machine of the character described, comprising a wire-guide, the wire under endwise pressure through the said guide, the said means being characterized by two dead centers, coil-forming tools,-

means for alteringthe co-acting relationship of said tools to permit the wire to be alternately coiled and fed straight, a cutter,

and means for operating the said cutter during one of the dead .center phases of the operation of the mechanism for feeding the forming tools, vmeans 16. A machine of the comprising a wire-guide, a wire-feeding mechanism having two dead centers, coilfor altering the coactingrelationship of the said tools during one of the dead-center phases of the operation of the wire-feeding mechanism, a cutter, and'means for operating the said cutter I means for feeding valtering 'the co-acting relationship character described, I

.durin the other dead-center phase of the wire ceding mechanism.

17. A machine of the character described, comprising a wire-guide, a wire-feeding device comprising an independently adjustable coil-feed mechanism and an independently .adjustable ends-.feed mechanism, coilforming tools, means for alterin the coacting relationship of the said too s to permit the wire to be alternately coiled and fed straightaWay, a cutter,and means for operating the same. y

18. A machine of the character described, comprising a wire-guide, vice including an independently adjustable coil-feed mechanism and an independently adjustable ends-feed mechanism, each mechanism having a dead-center phase in its` means for of the said tools during the dead-center phase of the coil-feed mechanism, to be alternately coiled and fed straightaway, a cutter, and means for operating the said cutter during the dead-center phase of operation, coil-forming tools,

Vthe ends-feed mechamsm.

a wire-feeding deto 'permit the wire In testimony whereof we have signed this j specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ADOLPH B. L. LINBERG. i JGHN ERNEST ANDREW. HENRY C.. WRIGHT. Witnesses. j

LJD. ADAMS, T. W. Coon. 

